Curtain-shade-locking device.



'No. 776,048. PATENTED NOV. 29, 1904. I. B. FISHER.

CURTAIN SHADE LOCKING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MB. 21. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

Ilfllll! fig, ms Wow Patented November 29, 1904.

PATENT Orion.

JAMES B. FISHER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CURTAlN-SHADE-LOCKING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming" part of Letters Patent No. 776,048, datedNovember Application filed February 21, 1903- Serial No. 144,446. (Nomodel.)

T 0 all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J AMES BUOKN ER FIsin on, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at St. Louis, State of hlissoiiii, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Ourtain- Shade-Locking Devices,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to improvements in curtain-shade-lockingdevices; and it consists in the novel arrangement and combination ofparts more fully set forth in the specification, and pointed out in theclaim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a series of car-windows,showing my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a similar enlarged Viewof a single window, parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a transversevertical enlarged section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing theshade locked.v Fig. 4 is a similar section on line 4 4: of Fig. 2. Fig.5 is a horizontal section on line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a sectionsimilar to Fig. 3, but with the locking-head swung to its disengagingposition; and Fig. 7 is a vertical section on line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

The object of my invention is to construct a locking device forcurtain-shades which may be made effective with a minimum amount ofmanipulation, the locking being accomplished by frictional or positiveengagement between the locking device and the walls of the groove of thewindow-frame in which the same is mounted. In the present instance theengagement between the locking device and walls of the groove referredto is at two opposite points of contact, this resulting from thespecific formation and dimensions of said locking device.

In detail the invention may be described as follows: Referring to thedrawings, F represents a car-window frame, and S the shade, the latterbeing mounted on an ordinary spring-roller adapted to wind the shadewhen released from a locked position. These features of course are oldand well-known and require no detailed description. Disposed along thelower end of the shade (or the upper end where the shade is mounted atthe bottom of the window-frame) is a rod 1, whose projecting ends areprovided with the locking heads or blocks 2 2, the latter operating inthe lon gitudinal grooves or ways 3, formed for their reception in theframe F. The center of the rod 1 is provided with a milled disk 4-, bywhich the same may be rotated or rocked to effect the necessaryengagement or disengagement of the locking-heads, as presently willappear. The locking-heads 2 in the present instance are cam shaped,being rotatable about their axes of oscillation with the rod 1, to whichthey are attached, the curvature of the edge of the head being in thenature of an evolute, though it is to be understood that I do not limitmyself to this specific configuration. The head 2 has its axis ofoscillation near the base of the evolute, the outer end of the curvebeing connected to said base by a straight edge 2. The maximum dimensionof the head is of course greater than the width of the groove 3, so thatif oscillated to a degree to cause the curved edges thereof to engagethe adjacent walls of the groove the tension exerted by the springrolleron which the shade is mounted will force or wedge said curved edgesagainst said walls, and thus effectively lock the shade against furthermovement, Figs. '3, 4:, 5. If the rod 1 is rotated so as to rock theheads to the position indicated in Figs. 6, 7that is, with the straightedges 2 opposite to the adjacent wall of the groove--the shade will befree to be drawn or adjusted to any desirable position. The rotation orrocking of the rod l..is accomplished through the medium of the milleddisk 4, which is seized by the thumb and forefinger and given a turn inthe required direction until either an engagement or disengagement ofthe head 2 is effected, it being understood that the rod 1 is loose inthe shade and free to turn therein.

1 do not, of course, wish to be limited to the details herein shown, asthese may in a measure be departed from without affecting the nature orspirit of my invention. The head 2 may be any convenient shape and maybe made of any suitable material. It is to be further understood that Ineed not limit the application of the present lock to curtainshades.

As stated above, while I do not wish to be limited to any specificconfiguration of the cam-head yet the latter should be so formed thatthe radii defining the curvature of the surface of contact of the headwith the walls of the groove should increase progressively toward thefree end of the straight edge or free end of the cam, so that thecontacting surface shall be as extensive as possible. In this way as onepoint of the cam-engaging surface Wears away fresh portions will bepresented to the wall of the groove and the life of the cam be prolongedindefinitely. Of course to effect engagement at any time the cam must beoscillated toward the cam-surface and away from the straight edge.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- In acurtain-shade-locking device, a suitable spring-actuated roller-shade,an oscillating cam-head having a straight edge, carried at oppositesides of one end of the shade, said locking-head having a cam-engagingsurface the radii of Whose curvature increase progressively from thebase or axis of the cam toward the free end thereof, and being rotatableabout a fixed axis located substantially at the point of convergence ofthe several radii, the frame of the window having a groove for thereception of the head, means for rocking the head toward the cam-surfacethereof to effect engagement of the same with the walls of the groove,and for rocking the head with the straight edge opposite the adjacentwall for disengaging the same, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES B. FISHER.

Witnesses:

EMIL STAREK, RosA Ross.

